Lunch box



Feb. 21, 1939. J, H. DEVINE 2,147,886

LUNCH BOX Filed Nov. 5A 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 @iii/5 Feb. 2l, 1939. J.H. DEVINE 2,147,886

LUNCH BOX Filed Nov. 5, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. H. DEVINE Feb. 21,1939.

LUNCH BOX Filed Nov. 5., 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 21, 1939. 4 J, HDEV|NE 2,147,886

LUNCH BOX Filed NOV. 5, 19.34 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 21,1939

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LUNCH BOX James l1. Devine, Ste. Genevieve,Mo., assigner to Dev-Insular Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation o!Missouri This invention relates to containers for comestibles, and moreparticularly to lunch boxes that are thermally insulated in such manneras to retain comestibles in either` a hot or cold condition.

Brieiiy, the type of device to which this invention pertains, comprisesan outer casing, an inner casing thermally insulated from the outercasing, and a plurality oi superposed food tanks which are disposedWithin and held in spaced relation to the inner casing and thermallyinsulated therefrom..

Broadly stated, the chief object of the present invention is to providea device of the character described having high thermal emciency, sothat the conduction of heat from the plurality of food tanks will bereduced to a minimum. Another broad object oi the invention is toprovide a device oi the character described wherein the various foodscarried thereby will each retain its own individuai iiavor and withoutdanger oi the odors oi the foods mixing andcontamihating the otherfoods. l

More specifically, it is one of the objects oi the present invention toprovide means for rigidly supporting and positioning the inner casingwithir and centrally oi' the outer casing and thermally insulating ittherefrom. In certain forme ci the device, both the inner and outer-casings areiormed oi metal and the supporting and positioning meanscomprises a collar formed of a suitable heat insulating material. Thiscollar is normally separate from. but is disposed between the inner andouter casings and rigidly secured. thereto. In another form of thedevice, the outer casing is formed oi metal and the inner casing isformed of a suitable heat insulating material. in such case, the collaris formed integrally with the inner casing, and is rigidly secured tothe outer casing in any suitable or preferred manner..

Another `object ci? the present invention resides inl the provision ofmeans for yieldingly clamping all oi' the superposed food tankstogether.` This clamping means serves to prevent the closure members ofthe food tanks trombeing raised of! of said tanks by reason of theexpansion of any air `entrapped therein, and also serves as a handle tofacilitate the insertion of forthe removal ofthe food tanks, as a unit,into 4or from4 the inner casing respectively. In ceri Y,this flangebeing vadapted toengage vbeneath a clown-turned `iiange formed on thelowermost food tank. In another form. this clamping means comprises a.strap whichmseats on and extends across the closure member of theuppermost food tank. The outer ends of this strap each have.

one end of a helical spring attached thereto, and, at their outer ends,these springs are adapted to engage studs or bosses secured to andextending outwardly from the sidewalls of the lowermost food tank. y

Another object of the present invention is to provide yieldableinsulated point contact means for holding the food tanks in spacedrelation to the inner casing, so that the point oi contact therebetweenwill be reduced to a minimum, thus greatly reducing conduction of heatbetween the tanks and the inner casing. i'n one form of the device thefood tanks are supported within the inner casing and insulated from thebottom. and side walls thereof by a single centrally located point ofsupport. In this form of the device the food tanks are insulated andyieldably supported out of contact with the top ci the inner casing andthe closure member therefor, by cooperating means formed on theaforementioned clamping means and the closure member, which means isalso in the nature oi a single insulated point of support. in anotherform oi the device the lowermost food tank is provided with e. pluralityci insulated feet which seat on the bottom wall of the inner casing. Thefood tanks, in this form oi the device, are also insulated and supportedout oi contact with the top ci the inner casing and the closure membertherefor by a single insulated point oi support, as above described.

Still another object ci the invention resides in the provision oi' a newand improved fastening means for securing the cover oi the lunch box tothe outer casing. l

A further object oi the invention resides in the provision of a deviceof the character described that is highly sanitary, and one in which theremovable parts thereof can readily be assembled or disassembled.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description when taken in `connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a iront velevational view partly in section oi a lunch bor.embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view, partly in v section, of thestacked food tanks and the clamping means therefore, the said clampingmeansv being shown in released position;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device ci Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modified form oflunch box;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view o1' modified forms ofcollars for the inner and outer casing and for the closure member.

, hesive.

and also shows a modified manner of securing the closure member gasketthereto;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing other modified forms ofcollars for the inner and outer casings and for the closure member andshowing another manner of securing the gasket to the closure member;

Figure 7 is a front elevational view of the superposed food tanks,partly in section, showing a modified form of clamping means appliedthereto;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the device of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a front elevational view of the superposed food tanks,partly in section, showing a third form of clamping means appliedthereto;

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modified form ofsupporting means for the-food tanks. A

In constructing a lunch box according to my invention, I provide anouter casing I of generally cylindrical shape, although it may beconstructed in any desired form without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention. 'I'his casing may be formed of any suitable material,although I preferably use sheet aluminum or tin. The outer surface ofthe casing may be painted or finished in any suitable manner or, ifdesired, the outer surface of the casing may be covered with leather, orother suitable material, so as to present an attractive appearance. Atits upper end, casing I is open and the marginal edge thereof isprovided with an inwardly extending annular` flange 2, while at itslower end the casing is closed by a bottom wall 3 and has its lowermarginal edge bent outwardly and upwardly to form a channel 4. Ihemarginal edge of the bottom wall 3 of casing I is bent about channel 4and extends downwardly thereinto, as shown, thereby forming a seam forsecuring the bottom wall 3 to the casing.

Within the casing I, I dispose an inner casing in the form of a liner 5,preferably formed of tin or aluminum. 'I'his casing or liner is spaced4from the outer casing and has its upper marginal edge bent outwardly toform an outwardly extending annular flange 5. At its lower end, liner 5is provided with a bottom wall 1, which wall may be seamed to the lineras indicated at 3 in substantially the same manner as the bottom wall 3is seamed to the outer casing I.

At its upper end, liner 5 is spaced apart and firmly secured to outercasing I by means of a collar 9. This collar may be formed of anysuitable heat insulating material and is of such size as to have a snugfit with the inner surface of the side wall of outer casing I as well asa snug fit with the outer surface of liner 5. The upper surface ofcollar 9 `is provided with an upwardly projecting boss I II, which bossis recessed as indicated at II to form inner and outer ridges I2 and I3,respectively, the purpose of which will hereinafter be explained. Asshown, the portion of the upper surface of the collar, which is disposedbetween the outer peripheral edge thereof and boss III, abuts theundersurface ofl the inturned flange 2 and the outturned flange 5, onthe casing and liner, respectively. The collar is secured to theseflanges by any suitable` ad- Preferably, outer casing I. is providedwith an inwardly pressed bead I5, and liner 5 is provided with anoutwardly pressed bead I6.

These beads extend inwardly for a short distance beneath the collar andserve to prevent downward movement of said collar with respect to saidcasing and liner. 'I'he space I'I between the outer casing and the lineris preferably filled with a suitable heat insulating material, such asgranulated cork. In addition to serving as an insulating medium, thiscork serves to support the bottom of the liner and to restrain lateralmove ment of said liner with respect to said' outer casing.

In assembling the device, beads I5 and I6 are first formed in the outerand inner casing, respectively. Collar 9 is then seated on these beads,after which flanges 2 and 6 of the casing and liner, respectively, arerolled over the collar and cemented thereto. The granulated cork is thenpoured into space I1 between the inner and outer casings after whichbottom wall 3 may be seam'ed to the outer casing I, in the mannerpreviously described.

A closure member, designated generally by the reference character 20, isassociated with collar 9 and serves to `thermally insulate the openupper end of liner4 5 from the atmosphere and from the outer casing' I.This closure member is in the form of an inverted cup'2I, being closedby a bottom wall 22 secured to cup 2| by a collar 23. Cup 2I and bottomwall 22 are preferably formed of tin or aluminum, while collar 23 ispreferably formed of a suitable heat insulating material. As shown, sidewall 24 of cup 2|, adjacent its peripheral edge, is bent outwardly anddownwardly and then bent inwardly to form a channel 25, while bottomwall 22 has its peripheral edge bent back upon itself, as indicated at.25, which bent back portion is then bent upwardly and outwardly to formya channel 21. Collar 23 is adapted to engage in channels 25 and 2I ofcup 2I and bottom wall 22, respectively, and is secured therein by anysuitable adhesive,

thereby 'securing bottom wall 22 to cup 2|. The.

space 28 enclosed by cup 2I and bottom wall 22 is preferably lled with asuitable heat insulating material, such as granulated cork.

For the sake of convenience in manufacturing, collar 23 has been madesubstantially similar to collar 9. Collar 23, therefore, also includesthe boss IIIla, having the depressed portion I Ia, forming the inner andouter ridges I 2a and I3a, respectively. On its under surface, bothcollars 9 and 23 are provided with a recess 29. In collar 23, recess 29is adapted to receive a gasket 30, which gasket is adapted to have afriction fit within the recess. When closure member 20 is placed inposition on the lunch box, this gasket seats on the ridges I2 and I3 ofcollar 9, thereby forming a double seal with said collar. It will alsobe noted that bottom wall 22 of closure member 20 is provided with acentrally located recess 3I, the purpose of which will hereinafter beexplained.

Theopen end of outer casing I is closed by a cover 33, preferably formedof tin or aluminum. This cover is preferably formed of two sections, theupper section being in the form of an inverted cup 34 and the lowersection being in the form of an annular ring 35. Cup 34 is joined toring 35 by means of a seam, which seam is formed by bending the upperperipheral edge of 'ring 35 outwardly and downwardly'to form a'channel35 and by then extending the peripheral edge 31 of cup 34 into saidchannel. The cover is provided With a handle 33, which is secured tosaid cover as by means of rivetsl '39, and is of such 75 dit dit

height that when placed in position on said lunch box, there will besuflicient space between the' top wall of said cover and the top wall ofclosure member 20 to permit of articles of food, such as pies, cakes,bread of the like, being placed upon said closure member. Vent holes 40are preferably formed in ring 35 of the cover to permit of circulationof air therethrough.

Cover 33 is secured to outer casing l by means of fastening devices,indicated generally at lll. These fastening devices comprise a metalplate d2, secured to outer casing Iv as by means of rivets di, the loweredge of said plate being bent outwardly away from casing i, as indicatedat 44. Extending outwardly at substantially right angles to plate t2, isan ear or lug 45, which is formed integrally with said plate, this earor lug having one end of a lever 46 pivotally secured thereto at di.Lever d6 has one end of a bail 48 plvotally secured thereto, the pivotalpoint of connection of said bail with said lever being below and in a.plane disposed between the outer casing i and the pivotal point ofconnection of said lever with said ear, when said lever is in theposition shown in Figure 1. in a recess 5B, which is formed in a plate5| by turning the lower edge upwardly as indicated at d2. This plate issuitably secured to cover 33 as by means ofrivets t3. The outwardlyturned portion lili of plate 42 is adapted to engage the inner surfaceof lever 46 and thereby limit inward movement of said lever with'respect to casing i. This prevents lever $6 from snapping against anddamaging said casing. It will be noted that ring 35 of cover 33 isprovided with' an inwardly pressed bead`54. When the cover is placed inposition upon the lunch box, this bead til is adapted to seat onshoulder 55, formed by the channel 25 of closure member 20. 'lihedownward pressure exerted upon cover 33 by fastening devices 4l, will,therefore, be transmitted to closure member 20 thereby assuring thatsuch closure member will be flrmly pressed downwardly upon vcollar d toassure a steamtight dt therewith.

Disposed within the inner liner d are a plurality of containers or foodtanks $1, d8 and t9. y These tanks may be constructed of any suitablematerial, depending largely upon the characteristics ci the substance tobe placed in the tank. Under ordinary conditions, these tanks maybeconstructed oi sheet aluminum. Each of the tanks, adiacent their upperopen end, are rolled outwardly to provide a downwardly extending annulardange 60, and adjacent their lower end are reduced in diameterto'provlde a shoulder ti. The bottom wall 62 of each of the tanks isalso provided with an upwardly pressed portion i'orming a recess t3.

d closure member 64 having upwardly extending side walls 65 forming adepression 66 is provided for each'of' the tanks.` The side walls of theclosure member are adapted to extend downwardlyinto lthe tank inabutting relation to the inner surface of the side walls of the tank andto have a snug lit therewith. The marginal edges of the walls/65 areturned outwardly to form a Y flange 61. A gasket 68 embraces side walls65 of cover members 64 and abuts against the under surface Aof flange61of said cover members. This gasket is preferably formed of rubber, or

' any other resilient heat insulating'material, land is adapted' to seatupon flange 6|! of the food tanks, and to provide a steam-tight fitbetween the tank and the closure member. .'nietanks At its upper end,the bail 48y engages I sliding movement of said tanks off of each other,

and thereby serves to prevent disarrangement of said tanks within theliner 5. The gaskets 68. as well as the tanks and the closure memberstherefor, are of symmetrical construction and are each readilyinterchangeable with each other. It has been found that when the foodtanks 51 to .59, inclusive, are filled with hot food and permitted toremain in the inner liner 5 for any period of time, that the closuremembers of said tanks have a tendency to raise off of the tanks, therebypermitting escape of steam into the space between the tanks and theinner liner and impairing theinsulating value of such space. The reasonfor the closure members raising out of their respective tanks has beenattributed to the fact that when the closure members are placed on thetanks a certain amount of air is entrapped and compressed therein. Thisentrapped air is heated by the hot food, which expands the air andbuilds up a pressure in the tank with the result that the closuremembers are raised off of the tanks. l'n order to overcome thisdi'iculty and to assure a positive air-tight t of the closure memberswith their respective tanks, Al. have provided suitable means forclamping the tanks together. Such means comprises a strap 10 of invertedU-shaped formation. This strap is preferably formed of spring steel andthe transverse portion 1I thereof, is adapted to seat on and extendacross the closure member of the top-most food tank. The transverseportion of strap 10, adjacent the outer ends thereof, is bent upwardlyfor a short distance as indicated at i2 and is then bent downwardly toform the legs 13 of the clamp. Legs 13 are preferably slightly curvedoutwardly as shown at 69. At their extreme ends, legs 13 are eachprovided -with an upturned fiange 1d, which ange is adapted to engageloeheath the flange 6d of the lowermost food tank. Lateral movement ofstrap 'l0 with respect to the food tanks is prevented by a washer "it,which is carried by strap 10, in a manner hereinafter more fullydescribed, seating in a depression 11 formed in cover 64 of the foodtank. Each of the covers M of theiood tanks 51 to 59, inclusive, isprovided with the depression l1 so that these covers may beinterchangeable with the tanks. When the tanks are clamped together, asshown in Figure 1V of the drawings, and it is desired to remove ange t0of' the tanks, at which time the clamp, i

due to the outward curvature of legs 13, will spring to the positionshown in Figure 2 of the drawings, and the clamp may then be lifted oiof the tanks. When it is desired to apply the clamp to the tanks, theclamp is placed upon the closure member of the topmost food tank andwith washer 15 seated in the depression 11 of said closure member, atwhich time the clamp i will assume the position shown in Figure 2 of thedrawings. By then exerting'downward pressure on portion 12 ofthe clamp.and by pressing the legs 13 thereof inwardly toward the tanks, anges 14of the clamp will be disposed beneath flange 60 of the lowermost foodtank,'and upon release of pressure upon -portion 12 'of the clamp theAlegs 13 will move upwardly and engage flanges 14 beneath flanges 60 ofthe tank.

'Ihe food tanks are disposed within and spaced from the walls of linerby means of two centrally located points of support. One of these pointsof support is located adjacent the bottom of the stacked tanks while theother point of support is located at the top of the tanks. 'I'he lowersupport comprises a knob 19 which seats on and is rigidly secured tobottom Wall of liner 5 by means of a machine screw 80. Knob 19 ispreferably formed of a suitable heat insulating material and, as shown,projects into depression 63 formed in the bottom wall of food tank 59.The food tanks are supported out of contact with the bottom wall 1 ofliner 5 by knob 19 and, by reason of knob 19 projecting into recess 63of food tank 59, lateral movement of said tank with respect to saidliner is prevented, and the tanks are, therefore,l also held out ofcontact with the side wall of the liner.

The uppermost food tank 51 and the clamping means are supported out ofcontact with liner 5 by means of a knob 8|. I'his knob is preferablyformed of a suitable heat insulating material and is provided with acentral longitudinal bore |20 for the reception of a shaft |2|, the knobbeing mounted upon the shaft for vertical sliding movement relativethereto. At its lower end shaft |2| is provided with a conical portion|22 which is adapted to seat in `a conical recess |23 formed in abushing |24. Bushing |24 seats on transverse portion 1| of clampingmeans 10 and shaft |2| extends through said bushing and clamping meansand through washer 15, disposed in abutting engagement with theunderside of transverse portion 1| of the clamping means, to which it issuitably secured, as by riveting, or in any other suitable or preferredmanner. Washer prevents upward movement of shaft |2| with respect to theclamping means, while conical portion |22 of shaft |2|, seating in theconical recess |23 of bushing |24, prevents downward movement of theshaft, so that said shaft is held rigid with respect to the clampingmeans. Bushing |24 serves as a. guide for the lower end of knob 8|, andalso serves as a seat for one end of a compression spring |25 whichembraces shaft |2 I. The opposite end of this spring abuts against aring |26, which projects inwardly from the walls of bore of knob 8|, andnormally tends to urge said knob upwardly with respect to said shaft.Ring |26, which has. a sliding t with shaft |2| serves as a guide forthe upper portion of knob 8| and, in addition, is adapted to engage theunder surface of an enlarged head |21 formed on the upper end of shaft|2|, and thereby serve as a stop for limiting the upward movement ofsaid knob with respect to said shaft. The open upper end of knob 8| isclosed by a cap |28, which has a friction fit with the side walls ofbore |20 and seats on a shoulder |29 formed in bore |20.

In assembling this device, shaft |2| is first passed through the openupper end of knob 8|, after which compression spring is slipped aboutsaid shaft and upwardly into said knob through the lower end thereof.Shaft |2| is then passed through bushing |24, transverse portion 1| ofclamping means 10,'and through washer 15, after which it is rivetedthereto. Cap |28 may now be put in place upon the upper end of the knob.

As shown, knob 8| is adapted to project into recess 3| formed in thebottom wall of closure member 20, and thereby hold the food tanks andclamping means 10 from moving laterally into engagement with the sidewalls of the liner, as well as into contact with closure member 20.'I'his knob also serves as a handle for clamping means 10 to facilitateinserting or removing the stacked tanks, as a unit, into or from liner5. In addition to the above, the knob serves as a yieldable support forthe stacked food tanks and compensates for any wear of the gaskets 68 ofthe food tanks. As the gaskets wear, the knob 8| will move upwardly withrespectto shaft |2|, under action of spring |25, and always maintain asnug ilt in the recess 3| of the closure member. This prevents rattlingof the food tanks within the liner. If desired knob 19, secured tobottom wall 1 of liner 5, may be constructed similarly to knob 8|,thereby forming two central yieldable points of support for the stackedfood tanks.

In Figure 4 I have show'n a modied form of the device of Figure l. Inthis form of the device, the outer casing Ib is also formed of tin oraluminum, and the outer surface thereof may bel nished in anyappropriate manner. The inner liner 5b, however, in the instant case, ispreferably formed of a suitable heat insulating material, such, forexample, as Bakelite or Crockery, and the collar 9b is formed integrallytherewith. The upper surface of collar 9b is also provided witha boss|0b, the depressed portion ||b formingthe inner and outer ridges |2b and|3b, respectively, and the outer casing is provided with the linturnedflange 2b and the impressed bead |5b for the purposes hereinbeforedescribed in connection with' the device of Figure 1. ulated cork as theyheat, insulating medium between the inner and outer casing in this formof the device. Preferably the lower end of the liner is suported bysuitable supporting means 83. This supporting means is preferably formedof a suitable heat insulating material and, as shown, seats in adepression 84 formed in the bottom wall 3b of outer casing Ib. Thisprevents lateral movement of the supporting means with respect to theouter casing. If desired, the supporting means 83 maybe formedintegrally with the bottom wall 1b of the liner 5b, or the supportingmeans may be provided with an upstanding ear or lug 85 for engagement ina recess 86 forme in bottom wall 1b of the liner. f'

The closure member 20h of the instant form of the device is similar tothe closure member of the device of Figure 1 in that it comprises aninverted cup member 2th.. having a channel 25h formed in the sidewall24h thereof. This cup member is preferably formed of tin or aluminum'.The bottom wall 22h is, however, in the present instance, formed of asuitable heat insulating material, such, for example, as Bakelite orCrockery, and the colla!l 23h is formed integrally therewith. The uppersurface of this collar is planar and is not provided with the depressedportion Ila and the inner and outer ridges |2a and |3a, respectively, ofthe collar 23 of the device of Figure 1. 'I'he collar is, however, pro.-vided with the recessed portion 29h on its under surface thereof, forthe reception of the gasket 30h. As shown, this collar extends into thechannel 25brof side wall 24h of cup member 2lb and is suitably securedtherein by a suitable adhesive. T'he under surface 22h is also providedwith a recess 3 Ib for the same purpose set out in connection with thedevice of Figure 1. The construction of the food tanks, the clampingmeans.

It is contemplated employing air or granand the method of supporting thefood tanks out of contact with the closure member and the side wall ofthe liner is substantially the same as that set out in connection withthe device of Figure 1. The knob 19h, for supporting the lowermost tankout of contact with the bottom and side wall of the liner, has, however,in the instant case been formedintegrally with' the bottom wall 'lb ofliner 5b.

Figure 5 shows a modified form of collar for use in connection with thedevice of Figure 1, and also shows a modified manner of securing theclosure member gasket thereto. As shown, the collars 9c.and 23e are ofsimilar construction and are readily interchangeable with each other.Each of the collars has its upper and lower surface concaved asindicated at 80 and 99, respectively. Collar 9c is disposed and held inposition between outer casing |c and inner liner 5c by the inturnedflange 2c and the inwardly pressed bead |5c, of outer casing ic, and theoutwardly turned flange 6c and the outwardly pressed bead |6c of theinner liner 5c. The closure member in this form of the device, comprisesthe inverted cup shaped member 2| c, having the channel 25e formed inthe side wall 24e thereof. The bottom wall 22e of the closure memberdiffers slightly in construction from the closure member of Figure 1, inthat the peripheral edge of such bottom wall is bent backwardly uponitself and then upwardly and forwardly to form a channel 9|, and thisforwardly extending portion is then again bent backwardly upon itselfand upwardly vand forwardly to form a second channel 21.0, whichcorresponds to the channel 21 of bottom wall 22 of Figure l. The channel9| is adapted to receive and clamp gasket 30e therebetween, and collar23e is received and held in channels '25e and 21e of the cup member 2|cand bottom wall 22e, respectively. I

Figure 6 shows still other forms of-collars for the closure member, andfor the inner and outer container, and also a modified method ofclamping the gasket to the closure member. lin this form of the devicethe outer casing ld is provided with the inwardly pressed bead lid andthe inturned flange 2d and the inner liner is provided with theoutwardly turned flange 6d and outwardly pressed bead ltd. @oll'ar 9d ispreferably formed of a suitable heat insulating material and ispreferably recessed at its upper and lower surfaces, as indicated at 92and 99, .respectively. The collar is held between'the outer casing idand inner liner 9d in the manner set out in connection with the deviceof Figure l.

The closure member 20d also comprises the channel 25d formed in the sidewall 24d thereof. As shown, bottom wall 22d, in the instant case, isbent downwardly as indicated at 94 and is then bent forwardly andbackwardly upon itself as indicated at 95 and such bent back portion isthen bent upwardly and forwardly to form the channel 21d. Collar 23d ispreferably of the formshown, and isY held within channel 25d of closuremember 20d and channel member 21d of bottom wall 22d. Collar 23dpreferably has a downwardly extending flange 96 and, as shown,

the bent back portion 95 of bottom` wall 22d This form of the clampingmeans is similar in construction to that disclosed in connection withing member 10a is also provided with a yieldable insulating knob Bla,which is secured thereto in the same manner as set out in connectionwith the device of Figure 1. It will be noted, however, that in thisform of the device the washer 15a does not seat in a depression formedin the closure member of the food tanks. Instead, this form of theclamping means has been provided with a second strap 99 to preventlateral move- 1 ment of said clamping means with respect to the foodtanks. This strap is secured to transverse portion lla of the clampingmeans by being confined between the washer 15a and the transverseportion lla of clamping means 10a. As shown, the central portion ofstrap 99 is pressed upwardly to provide a recess |00 for reception ofwasher 15a. At its outer ends, strap 99 is turned upwardly and thenoutwardly to form a flange |02.` The upturned portion |0| of strap 99bears against the upturned portion 65a of closure member 64a and flange|02 of strap 99 seats upon flange 61a of closure member 64a. As theupturned portion |0| of strap 99 bears against the upturned portion 65aof closure member 64a, and because of the curvature of said closuremember, said clamping means will be effectively prevented againstlateral movement with respect to said food tanks. lt will also be noted;in the instant form of the device, that the food tanks 51a to 59a areeach necked in, at |05, so\ as to dispose the anges @0a of such tankswithin the plane of the side walls H06 thereof. This clamp is operatedin the same manner as described in connection with the clamp of Figuresl and 2.

mgures 9 and 10 show another modified form of clamping means for thefood tanks. This form of the clamping means comprises a strap l08 whichis adapted to extend across the closure member 64b of the topmost foodtank 51h. 'This strap is provided with a yieldable handle illb, securedthereto in substantially the same manner as set out in connection withthe device of Figure 1. At its outer ends strap l08 is turned upwardly,as indicated at l09, and then turned outwardly and downwardly to formdepending ears or lugs H0. Ihese ears or lugs H0 are adapted to have oneend of a spring lll iixedly secured thereto at il?. 'lhese springs .areordinary tensionsprings, and at their free ends are adapted to engageover studs or bosses H3. which are rigidly secured to thelowermost foodtank 59h and extend outwardly from the side walls thereof. 'Ihe portion||4 of strap |08, disposed between upturned portion |09 and ear H0,normally seats on the flange 61h of the closure member 64b, and theupturned portion |09, seating within the depressed portion Bbvof closuremember 64b and abutting against the upturned portion 65?; thereof,serves to prevent lateral movement of said strap with respect to saidtanks and closure member., `When it is desiredto re move the clampingmeans from the tanks it is only necessary to release springs from thebosses H3 and to lift the clamping means off of the tanks. In this 'formof the device4 the lower food tank 59h is preferably provided with aplumay of insulated feet m secured thre'tolby rivets I I1, which feetseat in an annular channel H8 formed in bottom wall 1e of inner liner5e. The feet serve to support the tanks out of contact with the bottomwall of liner 5e and the channel IIB serves to prevent lateral movementof said tanks into engagement with the side walls of said liner. Ifdesired, the plurality of insulated feet IIE may be an integral part ofliner 5e and the annular recess or channel H8 may be formed in thebottom wall of the food tanks, as shown in Figure 11.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, while I have showncertain preferred embodiments of my invention I do not wish to belimited thereto, since changes may Abe made therein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is: y

l. In a lunch box, the combination with an outer casing, a liner securedwithin the casing and thermally insulated therefrom, and a closuremember for said hner, of a plurality of nested food tanks disposed insaid liner, clamping means yieldingly urging said tanks together, meanssupporting said tanks in said liner and out of contact with the side andbottom walls thereof, and an insulating knob mounted upon l and carriedby said clamping means and cooperating with said closure member forholding said clamping means and said tanks out of contact with saidclosure member and the upper portion of the walls of said liner in anyposition of the lunch box.

2. In combination, in a device of the character described, an outercasing, a liner secured within the casing and thermally insulatedtherefrom, a plurality of tanks disposed in said liner, and meanscomprising a single centrally located point of support formed integrallywith said liner and cooperating with said tanks for supporting saidtanks out of direct contacti with the bottom wall of the liner andrestraining lateral movement of said tanks toward said liner in anyposition of the device.

3. 'I'he combination `with a plurality of nested and stacked food tanks,of means securing said tanks together, comprising a strap seating on oneof said tanks and terminating adjacent the upper end of the lowermostfood tank, and cooperating flanges formed on the lowermost food tank andon said strap andengageable by relative upward and inward movement ofthe strap with respect to said tanks to thereby secure said strap tosaid tanks.

4. The combination with a plurality of nested food tanks, of meanssecuring said tanks together, comprising a strap seating on one of saidtanks, flanges formed on said strap, studs extending outwardly fromanother 'of sand tanks, and tension springs connected between saidiianges and said studs for clamping said tanks together.

5. In a lunch box, the combination with an outer casing, a metal linerdisposed within the casing and thermally insulated therefrom, a closuremember for said liner, and a plurality of nested food tanks disposed insaid liner, of means supporting said tanks within said liner andcomprising a support associated with said tanks and said liner and asupport associated with said tanks and said closure member. one of saidsupports' comprising a translationally movable member normallymaintained under pressure to thereby normally urge said tanks togetherand both of said supports being eilective to maintain said tanksthermally insulated from the walls of said liner.

6. In a lunch box, the combination with an outercasing, a linerdisposedwithin the casing and thermally insulated therefrom, a closure memberfor said liner, and a plurality of nested food tanks disposed in saidliner, of means supporting said tanks Within said liner and comprising asingle centrally located point of support associated with said tanks andsaid liner and a single centrally located point of support associatedwith said tanks and said closure member, one of said supports includingmeans normally urging said tanks together.

7. In a. lunch box, the combination with an outer casing, a linerdisposed within the casing and thermally insulated therefrom, a closuremember for said liner, and a plurality of nested food tanks disposed insaid liner, of means supporting said tanks within said liner andcomprising a single centrally located point of support associated withsaid tanks and said liner and a single centrally located point ofsupport associated with said tanks and said closure member, said lastnamed point of support including means normally urging said tankstogether.

8. In a lunchbox, the combination with an outer casing, a liner withinthe casing and thermally insulated therefrom, and a closure member forsaid liner, of a plurality of nested food tanks, clamping meansmaintaining said tanks in nested relationship, said food tanks and saidclamping means being disposed in said liner and spaced from the wallsthereof, and means including a spring actuated knob carried by saidclamping means and cooperating with said closure member to support andmaintain said tanks and said clamping means spaced from the walls ofsaid liner.

9. Irt a lunch box, the combination with an outer casing, a liner withinthe casing and thermally insulated therefrom, and a closure member forsaid liner, said closure memberbeing provided with a recess, of aplurality of nested food tanks, clamping means yieldingly urging saidtanks together, s'aid food tanks and said clamping means being disposedin said liner in spaced o relationship with respect to the wallsthereof, means supporting and maintaining said lowermost tank spacedfrom the bottom and side wall of said. liner, and means carried by saidclamping means and engageable in the recess in said closure member tosupport and maintain the uppermost tank and said clamping means spacedfrom the closure member and the side wall of said liner.

10. 'I'he combination with a plurality of 'nested food tanks, each ofsaid tanks being provided with an outwardly extending peripheral flangeon the open edge thereof, of means comprising a single relatively narrowsubstantially U-shaped strap i having its transverse portion seating onthe uppermost food tank, and a ange formed on the free end of each -legof said strap and engageable with the flange on the lowermost food tankby relative inward and upward movement with respect thereto for securingsaid strap to said tanks.

JAMES H. DEVINE.

